Opening statements are slated for Wednesday in Athens County Common Pleas Court.
The jury for suspended Athens County Sheriff Pat Kelly’s trial is set after two days of questioning about 80 potential jury candidates.
Opening statements will be given Wednesday in the Athens County Common Pleas Court.
On Tuesday, 38 potential jurors were narrowed to 12 with five alternates.
“Other than serving in the military, there’s no better way to serve your country than serving on a jury,” said Judge Patricia A. Cosgrove.
Cosgrove was still questioning potential jurors until about 1 p.m. Tuesday.
Questions consisted primarily of asking jurors how much they knew about the case and whether they could remain impartial. Some said outright they would not be impartial.
“I think he’s guilty,” one potential juror said when asked if he had any preformed opinions on the case.
Another juror said she had organized fundraisers for Kelly in her home, and that it was unlikely she could be swayed away from the believing he was innocent.
Another was excused due to health concerns.
Those who were advanced to additional questioning were asked more in-depth questions to further weed out those that would be unable to serve.
“It’s a very important process that we get to talk to you,” said Melissa A. Schiffel, a special assistant prosecuting attorney on the case.
Schiffel added that the court was going through this process to try to “determine if this case is the best case for you to sit on.”
The 38 jury candidates Tuesday included four Ohio University students and six OU employees. Nine had served on juries before and 11 of the potential jurors knew at least one of the witnesses.
The defense and prosecuting attorneys each objected to four jurors, eliminating eight total potential jurors. Cosgrove then selected eight more from the pool.
Once the jury trial kicks off, many county and city officials are expected to be called to the stand as witnesses.
Athens County Auditor Jill Thompson, County Prosecutor Keller Blackburn, County Commissioners Charlie Adkins and Lenny Eliason, and Athens Police Chief Tom Pyle are witnesses in the case, Cosgrove said.
Court reconvenes at 8:45 a.m. Wednesday.
—Julia Fair, Allan Smith, Emily Bohatch, Chelsea Sick and Josh Lim contributed to this report.
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